Wheel cover



E. M. ESTES WHEEL COVER July 19, 1960 `....Illmm WHEEL COVER 2 Claims. (Cl. 301-37) This invention relates to wheel covers and more particularly to a new and improved wheel cover for self' retaining engagement in predetermined spatial relationship with a vehicle wheel structure.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the vehicle Wheel structure preferably includes a Wheel rim of the type including an laxially inner radially extending v flange joined to an intermediate axially outwardly extending flange by a radially inwardly opening bead or groove. The wheel cover is Vof the full cover type and includes an axially extending annular marginal flange having laxially spaced circumferential rows of gripping teeth. The teeth of the axially outwardly row are grippingly engageable with the intermediate flange of the wheel rim to provide the major retention means for the wheel cover. The teeth of the axially inwardly row have their proximal portions in engagement with the axially inner radial flange of the wheel rim and their distal portions in engagement with a wall of the radially inwardly opening groove or bead to provide the dual function of additionally retaining the wheel cover on the wheel rim and spacing the cover axially with respect to the wheel rim through engagement of the proximal portions of the teeth with the axially inner radially extending wheel rim flange. The circumferential axially spaced rows of teeth lare discontinuous and each tooth in each row is spaced from anl yadjoining tooth.

In addition, the `wheel cover also includes an antirotation means to prevent rotation of the cover relative to the vehicle wheel structure during movement of the vehicle. Since the valve stem of the usual pneumatic tire assembly extends outwardly through the Wheel cover, the rotation of the wheel cover relative to thewheel structure is likely to -distort or break this tire valve stem. By providing an anti-rotation means for the wheel cover, the cover may be accurately positioned on the Wheel structure and rem-ain in this position regardless of movement of the vehicle. The anti-rotation means includes a radially inwardly extending protuberance on the axially outwardly extending flange of the wheel rim having opposite flat sides. A number of teeth of the axially outwardly row are out out and the tooth to either side of the cut out teeth is cut in half and bent against the axial flange of the cover to provide spaced opposing flat Ishoulder-s which are engageable with the opposing flat sides of the protuberance to prevent rotation of the cover on the ywheel structure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved wheel cover for self-retaining engagementY with a vehicle Wheel structure. Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved wheel cover for self-retaining engagement in predetermined spatial relationship with a vehicle wheel structure. A further object of this invention is toprov-ide a new and improved self-retaining wheel cover which includes axially spaced circumferential rows of cover retention teeth engageable withV a cooperating vehicle wheel flangeI structure to retain the Wheel cover on a vkwheel.k

Firice Yet, another object of this invention is to= provide a new and improved Wheel cover having integral retaining means and spacing means mutually cooperable with a vehicle wheel flange structure to retain the cover on the wheel in predetermined spatial relationship thereto. Yet, a further Yobject of this invention is to provide a new and improved anti-rotation means 'for wheel covers to prevent rotation of the cover relative to the wheel dur-ing movement of the vehicle.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

Figure v1 is a fragmentary side elevational view in section of a vehicle wheel cover according to this invention in assembled relationship with a vehicle wheel;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on th plane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure l and showing the anti-rotation means;

Figure 5 is a sectional 4view taken on the plane indicated by lin'e 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring now particularly to Figures l Iand 3 of the drawings, a vehicle wheel 1() includes a load supporting wheel body 12 and a wheel rim 14 of drop center type. The wheel rim 14 includes an annular drop center flange 16 which may be secured in a suitable manner to an annular flange 17 of the wheel body in order to assemble the Wheel. A radially land axially outwardly extending annular flange 1S is joined to flange 16 by an arcuate juncture portion or shoulder 20. Flange 18 is joined to an -annular radially and axially outwardly extending intermediate flange 22 by a continuous annular radially inwardly opening groove 24. As may beseen particularly in Figure 3, the groove 24 includes a radially and axially inwardly extending inner wall 26 continuous with flange 18, and la radially and axially outwardlyex-v tending outer wall 28 which is joined to flange 22 by an arcuate juncture portion or shoulder 3l). The terminal radially outwardly extending flange 32 of the wheel riin is joined to flange -22 by a curved juncture portion or shoulder 34. v Y

As may be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, a vehicle wheel cover 36 covers the opening of the wheel defined by the flange 22 of the wheel rim and includes an outer periphery o-r margin 38 of larger diameter than the greatest diameter defined by flange 22. The coverrretaining flange structure 39 includes an axially inwardly extending continuous annular flange 40 to the-rear of the cover which is joined to the margin 38 thereof byv vided with radially and axially outwardly extending teeth 46. The distal portions of the teeth are provided with sharp edges 48 which grippingly engage the flange 22 of the wheel rim to provide the major retention of the cover on the wheel structure.

At spaced intervals about the annular flange 40 a num.- ber of individual spaced fingers 50 project axially inwardly fromv flange 40 beyond the fingers 44. The fingers 50 extend from the flange 40 intermediate successive lingers 44 and are preferably spaced about the periphery of the flange at intervals of 90 degrees. The lingers 50 are provided with radially and axially outwardly extending teeth 52 which are joined on arcuate junctures 54 at their proximal portions to the lingers 50 and include a sharp edge 56 at their distal portions.

When the cover is in assembled relationship with the Wheel structure as shown particularly in Figure 3, the juncture portions 54 of the teeth 52 engage the radially and axially outwardly extending inner wall 26 of the groove 24 to provide a positive limit stop limiting inward movement of the cover relative to the wheel rim to determine the spacing between ange 42 of the cover and shoulder 38 of the wheel rim. In addition, the sharp edges 56 at the distal portions of the teeth 52 are engageable with the radially and axially outwardly extending outer wall 28 of the groove 24 immediately adjacent the arcuate juncture 30 of the groove and lange 22 to provide an additional retention means for the cover which is cooperable with the major retention means provided by the teeth 46 to hold the cover on the Wheel rnn.

As previously set forth, the cover retaining flange structure 39 is bodily and resiliently deflectable toward and away from the rear of the cover about the margin 38 thereof. When the cover is disassembled from the wheel, the distal portions of teeth 46 and of teeth 52 dene circles of substantially equal diameter but of greater diameter than the largest diameter of ange 22;. Thus, when the cover is mounted on the wheel, the sharp edges 48 of teeth 46 and 56 of teeth 52 move inwardly along the surface of flange 22 to bodily deflect the flange structure 39 toward the rear of the cover bodily so that the resiliency of the llange structure 39 provides a radially outward force when the cover is mounted on the body. This force causes the sharp edges 48 of teeth 46 to grip flange 22 to provide the major retention means for the cover. Since the teeth 52 extend radially and axially inwardly as does the inner wall 26 of groove 24 while the outer wall 28 of the groove extends in an opposite direction, the resiliency of flange structure 39 tends to wedge teeth 52 between the walls 26 and 28 to hold the sharp edges 56 of the teeth in gripping engagement with the wall Z3 of the groove. The arcuate shoulder 30 serves to guide the teeth 52 in place between walls 26 and 28 so that the cover may be easily applied in a continuous axially inward direction of movement as the sharp edges 56 of the teeth follow the contour of the shoulder during the linal stages of the axial inward movement of the cover.

Although the radially and axially inwardly extending ilange 42 is shown in spaced engagement with the shoulder 34 to provide an air gap therebetween, it will be noted that the air gap may either be made smaller or larger or may be dispensed with entirely by varying the effective length of the lingers 50 from their connection with the flange 40 to their junctureportions 54 with teeth 52.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 4 through 6 of the drawings, the anti-rotation means will be described.

As can be seen in Figure l of the drawings, a tire valve stem 60 secured in a suitable manner to the ange 18 of the wheel rim extends outwardly therefrom through an opening 62 in the cover 36 when the cover is assembled on the wheel structure. In the arrangement shown, the tire valve stem is intended for use with a tube-V less pneumatic tire. In the event that a pneumatic tire and tube assembly is employed, the tire valveV stem '69 would then be secured to the tube and project outwardly through a suitable opening inthe lange 18 and the opening 62 in cover 36.

During movement of the vehicle, the cover 36 often tends to rotate relative to the wheel structure. This ro-A tation can cause serious damage to the tire valve stem 60 since the stem may be distorted or may be broken.

In order to prevent any rotation of the cover relative to the wheel structure during movement of the vehicle, an anti-rotation means is provided and will now be described with particular reference to Figures 4 through 6.

A protuberance 64 which is formed integral with the llange 22 of the wheel rim and extends radially inwardly therefrom is provided with opposite flat sides or shoulders 66, as may be seen in Figures 4 and 5. The protuberance is semi-circular in cross section, as shown in Figure 6, although its cross sectional conguration may be otherwise, if so desired. As may be seen in Figure 4, certain of the lingers 44 are cut away from the ange 4) and the linger to either side of the cut away lingers is cut in half after removing the teeth 46 therefrom so that the half lingers 68 define opposed circumferentially facing edges 70 which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the distance between the shoulders 66 of protuberance 64. The half lingers 68 are then bent back against the radially outer surface of the ange 40 as shown in Figure 6 to define spaced closed beads. The normal outer diameter of the beads is greater than the diameter of the flange 2?. through the center line of the protuberance 64 so that the resilience of the flange structure 39 causes each of the half fingers 68 to engage the flange 22 to either side of the protuberance when the wheel cover is assembled on the wheel structure. In addition, the opposite edges 70 of the lingers 68 engage the opposite side edges 66 of the protuberance to provide an interlock preventing rotation of the wheel cover relative to the wheel in assembled relationship.

As previously mentioned, the lingers 50 are spaced about the periphery of .the flange 4l) preferably at 90 degree intervals. As may be seen particularly in Figure 4, one of these lingers is positioned immediately adjacent the anti-rotation means between the wheel cover and the Wheel rim. Although the lingers 5t) are preferably located at degree intervals, they may b e located otherwise if so desired.

Whenit is desired to assemble the wheel cover on the wheel rim, the opening 62 in the cover is centered with' the valve stem 60 so that the lingers 68 will be centered with respect to ythe protuberance 64. Thereafter, .the cover 36 is moved axially inwardly of the wheel structure to cause the teeth 46 and 52 to grippingly engage the wheel rim as previously described and to move the lingers 68 into engagement with opposite sides of the protuberance 64. Since the outer surface of the lingers 68 lies in a circle of larger diameter than the diameter of flange 22 through the center line of the protuberances 64, the resiliency of `the cover retaining flange structure 39 holds the lingers in engagement with the flange 22 to either side of the protuberance to -insure that the opposite edges 70 of the fingers will be in a position to engage the opposite edges 66 of the protuberances.

When it is desired to disassemble the wheel cover from the wheel, a suitable pry olf tool, such as a screwdriver, is inserted into the opening between llange 42 and the shoulder 34 of the vtire rim. Thereafter, by suitable manipulation of the tool, .the cover retaining flange structure may be bodily deflected towards the rear of the cover to release the teeth 46 and 52 and allow the wheel cover to be disassembled from the wheel.

By providing a wheel cover of the preferred structure as described, the cover is adequately retained on the Wheel rim against accidental dislodgment during service and is also spaced a predetermined distance from the Wheel rim so that an air gap of the desired size may be provided or that no air gap may be provided. If no air gap is provided and the liange 42 is in engagement with the shoulder 34 of .the wheel rim, the lingers 56 and the teeth 52 then solve another common problem in wheel covers. This is the problem of squeaking whereby the llange structure 39 of the cover moves axially inwardly and voutwardly with respect to the Wheel rim during service to distort flange 42' and cause portions thereof to rub against shoulder 34 and flange 32. Since the teeth 52 engage a lixed wall 28, the teeth will prevent this squeaking by preventing the ange structure 39 of the cover from moving axially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the wheel rim. Even though the teeth 46 r grippingly engage Ithe wheel rim, this axial inward and outward movement is possible since they engage an axial surface which tends to allow this movement rather than a radial surface as ydo the teeth 52. Thus, it can be seen that the wheel cover of this invention has many vvaried and possible uses and solves many o-f the problems at- .tendant the use of self-retaining wheel covers.

I claim:

1. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a wheel rim having .a generally axially inwardly extending ilange joined at its axial inner portion to a generally radially extending il-ange, a cover tor said wheel including aicover body' and cover lretaining flange structure exq tending axially inwardly therefrom in radially spaced relationship to said axially inwardly extending flange of said wheel rim, and cover retention means on ,said ilange structure for lretaining said cover on said wheel and spac-V ing said covervwith respect to said vradially extending wheel rim flange, said 'cover retention means including a plurality of axially spaced circumferential rows of spaced teeth' lying in spaced generally parallel radial planes, one of said rows of teeth having their distal portions in gripping biting engagement with said axially extending flange to thereby retain said cover on said wheel against axially outward movementtherefrom, and ythe other of said rows having .their proximal portions in engagement'with said radially extending flange and their distal portionsV in grippingfbiting engagement with said axially extending llange in wedging engagement therebetween to additionone row of teeth being divided into a plurality of spaced quadrants of teeth around the periphery of said cover,

said quadrants ibeing spaced apart-by intervening flange ,Y

structure merging into the teeth of said other of said rows to stagger said rows of teeth circumferentially with respect to each other.

radially extending iiange by a radially inwardly opening groove, a cover for said wheel including a cover body and cover retaining liange structure extending axially in- Vwardly therefrom in radially spaced relationship to said axially inwardly extending flange of said wheel rim, and

vcover retention means on said llange structure for retaining said cover on said wheel and spacing said cover with respect to said radially extending wheel rim ange, said cover retention means including a plurality of axially spaced circumferential rows of spaced teeth lying in spaced generally radial planes, `one .of said rows of teeth having their distal portions in gripping biting engagement with said axially extending flange to thereby retain said cover on said -wheel against axially outward movement therefrom, and 'the otherof said rows having their proximal portions in engagement with one of the walls of said groove and their distal portions in gripping biting engage- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,480 y Lyon Nov. 24,- 1953 2,804,346 Landell Aug. 27, 1957 2,804,348 Lyon Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 491,457 Canada Mar. 24, 1953V 1,041,268 France v May 27, 1953 744,837 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1956 529,973

Canada Sept. 4, 1956 

